Method of producing metals in a finely-divided state.



Patented Aug. 5, [902. j

` E. PoHL, METI'IDD 0F PRODUCING METALS IN FINELY DIVIDED STATE..

` (nu Model.)

(Application Mod Oct. 28, 1901.)

mw kWh/maw UNITED- :STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDUARDroHL, or wEisswAssER, GERMANY.

METHOD OF PRO-DUCIG METALS IN A F-lNELY-DlV-IDED STATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.` 706,475, dated August 5, 1902.

" Application ined cette2s,19o1.fsena1nohref/16. (No specimens.)

To all whom t may concern/.- i

Beit known that I, EDUARD POHL,engineer, of Weisswasser, Upper Lusatia, in the German Empire, have invented certain new and 5 useful Improvements in Methods of ProducingMetals in a Finely-Divided State, of which the following is a clear and distinct description.

The new process consists in smelting the xo metal, dividing the molten mass into mostly fine drops by means of a suitable apparatus, evaporating these line metallic drops in a retort or the like, and then condensing the vapors. I-Iitherto very line metallic powder has been produced by melting-the Vmetal and directly evaporating the molten mass, which causes the evaporation to take place slowlyand at a. Such objection is y very high temperature. 2o overcome by the method hereinafter set forth, in which the evaporation proceeds more quickly and at a considerably lower 4temperature.

In order to describe the manner' of carryz 5 ing out my process, I will refer to the evaporation of tin in order to obtain tin-powder in a most fine state. o

For carrying out my process I use a muftie or retort furnace, in which'v the retort isheat- 3o ed to the required temperaturej-V In the accompanying drawings such a furnace is represented by way of example.

Figure l is a longitudinal section through the furnace and retort, Fig. 2 showing part of a retort-furnace in longitudinal section, and Fig. 3 is a sectional view of an upright retort.

The retort f is suitably mounted within the furnace and .is provided with` an arrangement for introducing and spraying the liquid metal-a nozzle ct. This latter is in connection by means of a pipe or thelike (not shown) with the apparatus (not shown) in which the molten metal` is` contained and` from vwhich the latter is forced into the retort either by means ofthe pressure of steam, gas, ror the like' orbymeans'of its own pressure if the molten-metal receiver is placed high enough above the retort. `After the retort is heated to therequired temperature the molten metal 5o is introduced by means of the nozzle a., thereby producing a spray of finely-divided metal. The temperature to which the retort is heated"'depends on the degree of the division of the metal drops and on the length of the way they have to pass in the retort, larger drops requiring a higher temperature or a longer way. When treating tin according to the new process, I heat the'retort to about light-red Aheat.- The spray of metal drops is easily and 6o rapidly evaporated in the retort. It' it is the object to'obtain the metal in a most finelydivided metallic state, `the vapors are condensed in the collector-chambery. The metal is now so fine that itis advantageous to condense and keep it under WaterA or any other suitable liquid.

Having thus described my invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is- 7o A process for producing metals in a finelydivided state consisting in smelting the material, spraying the smeltedmaterial into a retort heated to a suitable temperature, evaporating the spray, vand then condensing the obtained vapors.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two Witnesses.

EDUARD IOHL. Witnesses:

WOLDEMAR HAUPT, WiLHELM BEER. 

